Morsi refuses to resign, meditates on 'legitimacy' in address as unrest continues

Just as the death toll in clashes in metropolitan Egypt spiked upwards, President Morsi has addressed the nation Tuesday, blaming 'remnants of the former regime' for national unrest, but giving little details of solutions to the ongoing crisis.

"I listen to [protesters] under the democratic process.
However the remnants of the former regime, and its figures, are
fighting against democracy. If they come back to the people, they
will be rejected. They are accustomed to corruption, rigging
elections, sucking dry the blood of the people and gobbling up
the riches. Syphoning their money abroad. They cannot thrive in
democracy. Those figures are taking advantage of the lawful anger
of the youth," Morsi said in his address.

"Egypt has its own free will, it will move forward, achieve
economic productivity -- and this is not an easy task, it
requires a great deal of effort, solidarity and cooperation.
However, as you are aware, and the whole world is aware, that the
challenges of the past remain in our way," the Egyptian
President said, again referring to the "former regime,"
remnants, as well as to the "insistent" corruption.

"There is no subsitution to legitimacy, no alternative - and I
am open to dialogue," Morsi continued just after Midnight
Wednesday. "I emphasize to you that tomorrow will be brighter
than today. Protect us from falling into any trap, or following a
dark tunnel, the end of which is not known to any of us," he
went on.

"I send a message: a message of love, and a message of
appreciation to all of the people of Egypt, no matter what their
positions are," Morsi entreated the nation as the speech
continued without signs of the resolution proposal the president
was expected to deliver.

"Opposition or supporters, and I urge you all to adhere to
legitimacy together with me, to stand steadfast safeguarding this
legitimacy. To prove to the whole world that we are capable
through our democracy, without any bloodshed," he
continued.

"Do not allow the revolution to be hijacked under any
pretext," Morsi urged listeners before going into vague vague
warnings against "malicious perpetrators." In light of the
ultimatum delivered by the country's armed forced earlier in the
week, Morsi added, "I urge the opposition and its supporters
to steer away from insulting the army."

"If the price for safeguarding legitimacy is my blood, then I
am prepared to sacrifice my blood for the sake of stability and
security of this homeland," he pledged. "Let's all
remember what God says in the holy scripture. I salute you and I
tell you that I will walk together with you through to the end of
the journey of legitimacy."

Ahead of his speech, Morsi took to Twitter to reject any
ultimatums made by the armed forces, vowing to adhere to the
legal framework of the Ehyptian Constitution.

The embattled president called for the Egyptian Army to withdraw
a statement in which it extended Morsi 48 hours to defuse the
mass protests that have rocked the country since this weekend or
face military intervention. Morsi also called for rejecting
foreign interference in the developing situation.

On Tuesday, Morsi met with the chief of the armed forces, General
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and with premier Hisham Qandil, though
there were no details of that meeting made public so far.

Al-Ahram reported that with the close of the forty-eight-hour
deadline set by the Egyptian Army, one of two things is expected:
either Morsi will have to announce his resignation himself, or
his dismissal will be declared through a road map presented by
the armed forces.

As was widely reported on Tuesday, the army intends to dissolve
Egypt's current constitution and prepare for presidential and
parliamentary elections. There is also a plan to enact a
presidential council consisting of the chief justice of the
Supreme Constitutional Court, and two other members to be decided
- this trio is meant to manage Egypt’s affairs during a
transitional period following Morsi's resignation that would last
between nine months and a year.

Perhaps even more serious are reported plans by the armed forces
to coordinate with Egypt’s security forces to detain Muslim
Brotherhood leaders, placing them under house arrest, as well as
confiscating their weapons and freezing their funds.

Meanwhile, violent demonstrations in Egypt overnight into
Wednesday have claimed at least 16 lives, the country's Health
Ministry reported, with at least 200 more said to be injured.

Scores of others were injured in Giza neighborhood, “some of
whom are in critical condition from bullet wounds,” according
to doctors cited by AFP. Four people in that district have been
killed in the clashes, Yahia Moussa of the Egyptian Health
Ministry confirmed to Al Jazeera.

At least six people have been killed and 90 injured in continuing
clashes near Cairo University between supporters of president
Morsi and security forces, according to an aide to Egypt’s health
minister who spoke to Reuters.

Egyptian Television showed ambulances taking away casualties, as
well as small fires burning while hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood
and Morsi supporters wept and chanted slogans.